The Libra ConstellationFrom The Claws Of ScorpiusTo The Scales Of Justice

Libra
is Latin for scales. The Libra constellation while known as the beam
balance also represents the balance of the cosmos.

Libra
was an ancient Roman measure of weight. The abbreviation of which is
LB. This
become the symbol for the pound. The
uncia, a bronze Roman coin, would become "ounce".

Libra
is considered to depict the scales held by Astraea, the goddess of justice, from the Virgo
constellation.

It is the only zodiac constellation not animal nor human. Originally though Libra was the claws of Scorpius the scorpion.

Situated between Virgo in the west and Scorpius to the east. It's bounded by Serpens Caput, Hydra, Lupus, Ophiuchus and a small part of Centaurus.

Libra's status as the location of the autumnal equinox earned the equinox the name "First Point of Libra”. Similarly the vernal equinox is known as the “First Point Of Aries”. The autumnal equinox is now in Virgo due to precession. During the equinox the 24 hour period is balanced equally between day and night.

Zuben
Elgenubi, is a binary star divisible in binoculars. The primary is a
blue-white star of magnitude 2.7 and the secondary is a white star of
magnitude 5.2. Its traditional name means "the southern claw".

Zuben Eschamali is the corresponding "northern claw" to
Zuben Elgenubi. The brightest star in Libra, it is a green-tinged
star of magnitude 2.6, 160 light-years from Earth.

Gamma Librae is
called Zuben Elakrab(Zuben-Al-Akrab), which means "the
scorpion's claw”. These names are from the original thought as
Libra being Scorpius' claws.

Libra
is home to many variable stars, as well as several other binary and
double stars.

Iota
Librae is a complex multiple star. A binary star with an optical
double.

The
primary appears as a blue-white star of magnitude 4.5; it itself is a
binary star indivisible in even the largest amateur instruments.

The
secondary, visible in small telescopes as a star of magnitude 9.4, is
also a binary with two components, magnitudes 10 and 11. So this is
actually a four star system, with an optical double.

The
optical companion to Iota Librae is a star of magnitude 6.1, visible
in binoculars.

In
a good small to medium sized telescope you should be able to see 4 of the
five stars.

Mu
Librae is a binary star divisible in medium-aperture backyard scopes.
The primary is of magnitude 5.7 and the secondary is of magnitude
6.8.

The Libra constellation is home to one bright globular cluster, NGC5897.

Gliese
581 a red dwarf star slightly north of Beta Librae, has a planetary system
of at least 6 planets.

Gliese
581c is considered to be the first Earth-like planet to be found
within its parent star's habitable zone.